Chapter Thirty-Seven - Let me Level With You

Chapter Thirty-Seven - Let me Level With You

I hummed as I picked berries as quickly as I could, plucking them off the branches and placing them on a cloth I had spread out on the mossy ground. When I had collected a whole bunch I knotted up the cloth into a sort of baggy and tied a neat bow at the top.

Cloudberries

These berries grow on tough bushes that are quite common across most marshy areas and bogs. They are a delicacy in certain northern territories. Hard to cultivate in an artificial environment. They require a few specific temperature ranges and a precise acidity level in the ground to grow. The bushes will often create foggy clouds around them that might disguise their presence.

The berries are edible by most humanoids and are quite tasty if fresh. They dont keep for long. The berrys juice has a very weak lightening effect that makes the eater weigh less. This can be heightened with a few alchemical processes. Its also one of the main ingredients in cloud tinctures and smokescreen vials.

The only thing better than yummy berries were magic yummy berries.

I hopped on the spot a few times but didnt feel any lighter. Maybe it took some time for the magic to settle in? Whatever. I was happy for the snack already.

Bending down, I picked up my baggy of berries, then gave the bush a pat. Thank you, I said.

Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Gardening skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!

Rank D is a free rank

Oh, sweet! I said.

Bing Bong! Congratulations, your Cinnamon Bun class has reached level 6!

Health + 5

Resilience +5

You have gained: One Class Point

You have unlocked: One Class Skill Slot

... Eh?

I ran back to camp to find everyone sitting around the campfire, all of them looking to be in a good mood. Milread was skinning a rabbit while Noemi stirred a pot full of something that smelled scrumptious.

Guys! I said as I ran over, then paused to pant and catch my breath. Guys, I levelled up!

The three of them paused, then Severin nodded. Congratulations.

No, I said. I mean, I just levelled up, like that. I didnt kill anything.

Thats great? Milread said. She sounded a bit confused. Which was good because I was very confused.

I just got a rank up in my gardening skill, for picking some berries. Um, I found some cloudberries, by the way. And then I got a level up. How?

Severin and Milread looked at each other while Noemi kept stirring the pot. Thats how levels work, Milread said.

But every level I got so far was from combat with stuff, I said.

She perked one eyebrow at that. Thats unusual for a non-combat class. Most of the time youll level up from doing things in line with your class. Im a Sword Sweeper. I get levels from fighting and practicing with a sword. But if I were a Baker Id get levels from baking.

Severin shook his head. You could get levels from baking wiz your current class as well. It would just take an order of magnitude more work zen usual. You said you received a rank up, Broccoli? he asked.

A termite farm.

Oh, eww, I said before snapping my attention back to working on my magic. If I didnt think about where the food I was going to eat came from then it couldnt hurt me.

When I next looked up, it was to see that the sky was starting to turn orange. There were plenty of lights on the horizon though, both from Port Royal above and from a tiny village that was coming up ahead.

Bottoms Rest, Milread said, probably for my benefit since I was the only one that had never been to Port Royal before. Thats where were stopping for the night. If you guys want to split, this is the place. Im only heading up the mountain in the morning. Missy needs a rest before trying that climb.

Zen I think its where well part ways, Severin said. It was an enjoyable ride.

Hmm, Noemi said.

I swallowed and nodded. Yeah, I guess it was. A tiny adventure. Um, Severin, I never did cast fireball, but you taught me a bunch, do you... well.

Keep your silver, Severin said. Youll need it more zan I will, I have no doubt.

Thank you! I said. If we ever meet again, Ill be sure to show you how good Ive become at magic, alright?

He croaked in what I thought was delight. We shall see.

Missy pulled the wagon up to the large wooden gates of the little village and got in line behind a few farmers and a single fancier carriage. Each vehicle was inspected in turn, but it was a quick affair, more of a formality than anything.

Milread pulled out some documents that showed that she was a courier and the guards, after looking at it for a while, let us pass without trouble.

Bottoms Rest was a small village, maybe twice the size of Threewells but with a lot more shops and a bigger inn. Thats where Milread led the wagon with Noemis help and stopped before the stone building. This is it, the harpy said.

I hesitated a little before jumping off the wagon and looking around. The town was fairly quiet, though there was a murmur of conversation from within the inn. It made sense, what with the sun just about to set.

I spun around when Milread tapped me on the shoulder. You be safe, alright, kid? she asked.

Smiling, I stepped up to the taller harpy woman and gave her a quick hug. Thanks for the ride, I said.

She squawked in protest and shoved me off with a ruffle of feathers. None of that, brat. Im not the hugging sort. Go try with Severin. Well see us when our paths next cross, world willing.

I smiled to keep the melancholy away and found Severin climbing out the back of the wagon. He was in the perfect position to hug as he came down. Bye Severin, I said. You were a great teacher.

To my surprise he returned the hug with a good pat on the back. Of course I was. Anyone would be a good teacher to someone so poorly educated as you. He laughed. If youre heading up, zen youll want to follow me a little more. Im taking ze carts up.

Oh, I said. I didn't know that there were carts leading to the top, but it made sense.

Then it was time to say bye to Noemi.

Hey, I said. Um. Im sorry if I came on a little strong. I just wanted to be friends. But Im glad we got to meet anyway.

Sometimes people dont want friends, she said.

Isnt that when you need a friend the most? I asked. I gave her a quick hug, then backed away. I hope we meet again someday, I said.

Then it was time to be off. I had an entire city to explore!

***